Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Maksim Znak is spending yet another birthday in prison”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Maksim Znak is spending yet another birthday in prison. A creative person, driven by the ideas of justice and respect for law, he has become a hostage of a system that he sought to change. This system cannot tolerate people who see the world through eyes full of kindness, compassion, and a desire […]
September 04, 2023
“Our stance has been acknowledged.” Franak Viacorka commented on President Nauseda’s decision to abstain from tightening restrictions against Belarusians
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Senior Advisor Franak Viacorka: “It is a positive sign that President Nauseda did not introduce a bill to the Seimas that could equalize restrictions against Belarusians in line with those against Russians. Belarusians must not be equated with Russians, just as they must not be equated with the regime. Over the past few […]
September 03, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Nobel Foundation’s decision to cancel invitations to ambassadors of Lukashenka and Russia shows solidarity with Belarusian and Ukrainian people”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The decision of the Nobel Foundation to cancel invitations to the ambassadors of Lukashenka and Russia is a sign of solidarity with the Belarusian and Ukrainian people. In addition, it is an act of support for Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski, who has been illegally imprisoned by the Lukashenka regime for several years now. […]
September 02, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with Belarusian exiled business and expert community
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held a meeting with representatives of the Association of Belarusian Businesses Abroad (ABBA), Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC), and Imaguru Startup Hub today in her office in Vilnius. These are the largest Belarusian NGOs that support and research private Belarusian businesses. The meeting focused on the problems faced by Belarusian businesses […]
September 01, 2023
Kristina Richter: “Any limit on your rights is always explained by concern for your good, no matter how inhumane it is”
Kristina Rikhter, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Legal Affairs, commented on Lukashenka's decree establishing an automated payment incident processing system within Belarus' National (Central) Bank: “This step was presented as a measure to strengthen the fight against financial fraud, but we all know what the regime will actually use this mechanism for. The system will collect […]
September 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged Belarusians to ensure their financial security to prevent the regime from controlling their life
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Lukashenka has signed a decree that gives law enforcement agencies access to information covered by bank secrecy and legalizes full control over Belarusians' money. The regime can deem any banking operation “untrustworthy”. It is clear that it will not investigate purchases of food, utility payments, loan repayments, tax or union dues. But donations, […]
September 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor Anatoli Liabedzka discussed Ukrainian strategy vis-a-vis Belarus live with Mykhailo Podolyak
During his visit to Kyiv, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, met with the Advisor to the Head of the Office of President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak. Today, the politicians held a joint live stream on YouTube to discuss the future of Belarus–Ukraine relations, the situation in Belarus, as […]
September 01, 2023
Digest of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office on Education and Science, August 2023
Please, send the information about everything concerning education in Belarus to our safe anonymous chatbot @eduOST_bot. Please, tell us news from your educational institution or government agency about repressions and various forms of pressure from the management, and write to us about corruption and new regulations which you consider unreasonable or irrational. You are also […]
September 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science Tatiana Schyttsova congratulated students, parents, and teachers on start of school year
Tatiana Shchyttsova: “Let me congratulate all Belarusian children, families with students, and teachers on the start of the school year! Today, thousands of Belarusian children will go to school in exile. Education in another country is associated with many challenges both for them and their parents — psychological, socio-economic, or bureaucratic. However, there is one undeniable […]
September 01, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “When you look at our children, you know for sure they will grow up to be a better version of us”
On September 1, Knowledge Day, when the academic year starts in Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed teachers, parents, and schoolchildren: “Dear teachers! Being an honest teacher in Belarus today is a true feat. And every day you do it despite the systemic pressure. You teach children to think and express their opinions. You strive to see […]
September 01, 2023
Vehicle for Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, meetings with politicians and Belarusians: results of Anatoli Liabedzka’s visit to Ukraine
A delegation of the democratic forces visited Ukraine. It included Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor for the Constitutional Reform and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Anatoli Liabedzka, United Transitional Cabinet Representative for Foreign Affairs, Valery Kavaleuski, and Head of the Mission of Democratic Forces in Ukraine, Henadz Manko. During the visit, the delegation held a number of meetings. – With […]
August 30, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office conducted an online survey to see public opinion on the work of democratic forces
Last month, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office launched an anonymous online survey to see the opinions of Belarusians on the work of democratic forces: what they are dissatisfied with, which fields of work they support, and what they would like to improve. The Office is sincerely grateful to all Belarusians who participated in the survey and shared […]
August 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met Slovenian Foreign Minister to discuss rehabilitation for former political prisoners
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon. Slovenia has won the non-permanent UN Security Council seat against the Lukashenka regime. Slovenia will represent the Eastern European Group, including Belarus, in the UN starting in 2024. During the meeting, Ms. Fajon and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed joint activities in the UN […]
August 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with OSCE Chairman and North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani
Mr. Osmani and Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discussed the implementation of the Moscow Mechanism invoked by the OSCE against Belarus. They agreed on the need for an assessment of its execution and steps for its practical implementation. During the meeting, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke about the situation of political prisoners, many of whom are being held incommunicado in […]
August 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with President of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar
Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar expressed her support for Belarus’ democratic forces and its people. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya congratulated Slovenia on winning the election for the UN Security Council seat against the Lukashenka regime and thanked the country for its support for Belarusian democratic forces in international organizations. The Belarusian leader spoke about the situation with […]
August 29, 2023
Potash exports, freezing regime’s assets, new passport: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Foreign Minister of Canada
Minister Mélanie Joly informed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya about Canada's latest decisions on expanding sanctions against the Lukashenka regime and supporting civil society. The Minister emphasized that Canada continues to receive Belarusian refugees. Ms. Joly stated that Canada continues to support Belarus’ democratic forces diplomatically. Jeanette Sautner, who previously was responsible for Belarus at the Canadian Embassy […]
August 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Wlachovský discussed assistance to volunteer fighters and situation with Wagner mercenaries
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Wlachovský, expressed his support for Belarus’ democratic forces and the people who continue to fight for democratic changes. During the meeting, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya raised the issue of political prisoners and the need for their immediate release. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that the situation is critical […]
August 29, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with newly approved Prime Minister of Bulgaria to discuss New Belarus Passport project and Russian threat to Belarus’ independence
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya informed Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov about the 60,000 applications from Belarusians for the new passport and expressed hope that Bulgaria would support this initiative. During the meeting, they also discussed the Russian threat to Belarus' independence. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya proposed that the issue of Belarus should be raised at meetings of the Bucharest Nine, […]
August 28, 2023
Franak Viacorka: “We are working to ensure that cross-border travel between our countries stands for as long as possible”
Franak Viacorka, Senior Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, commented on the possible closure of borders between Belarus, Poland, and the Baltic states: “This is how our neighbors respond to Lukashenka’s statements and absolutely irresponsible steps, the presence of Wagner mercenaries, and threats against neighboring countries. First and foremost, this is a signal to the regime that […]
August 28, 2023
Assistance to Belarusians, situation with political prisoners, and cooperation with the EU: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is visiting Austria and Slovenia
The Belarusian leader started the week by speaking at the European Forum Alpbach. In a panel discussion, she talked about the problems faced by political prisoners in Belarus and the situation in the country. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya called on the international community to help Belarusians, develop mechanisms to hold the Lukashenka regime accountable, and consider including […]
August 28, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We have demonstrated that we are capable of defending our freedom both peacefully and with weapons in our hands”
On August 25, the day the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Republic was given constitutional status in 1991, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Belarusian people: “Today we have to fight for our independence again. Because now it is under the greatest threat in all recent history. Our country hosts Russian soldiers and their military bases. Mercenaries […]
August 25, 2023
“Your fight for freedom inspires the whole world. And I am proud to see Belarusians helping you.” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address on Ukraine’s Independence Day
On Ukraine's Independence Day, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the Ukrainian people: “Dear Ukrainians, President Zelenskyy! It has been a year and a half since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. All this time, you have been defending your independence with weapons in your hands and fire in your hearts. We bow our heads to your courage and […]
August 24, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas not to synchronize restrictions against Belarusians and Russians
On August 23, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya held talks in the Lithuanian Seimas with Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen. The meeting focused on the situation with political prisoners in Belarus, the presence of Wagner mercenaries, potential border closures, and a law that could potentially synchronize migration restrictions against Belarusians and Russians. Ms. Tsikhanouskaya urged the speaker to abstain from […]
August 23, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today is Pavel Belavus’s birthday”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today is Pavel Belavus's birthday. He has always cared about everything Belarusian and framed the national idea of our country in everything he did. He has devoted his whole life to letting us all know that being a Belarusian is something to be proud of. But for his love for Belarus, he is […]
August 22, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appointed Marharyta Vorykhava as Advisor on Youth Policy and Students
At the New Belarus Conference 2023, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya appointed Marharyta Vorykhava as her Advisor on Youth Policy and Students. In addition to this position, Marharyta will remain the President of the RADA Youth Council and a representative in the Council of Europe's Contact Group and the EU’s Consultative Group on Belarus. Ms. Vorykhava has released […]
August 21, 2023
“No force can ever take away our love for you.” Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya – on the birthday of Siarhei Tsikhanouski
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Dear Siarhei, Every day Ahniya and Karnei wake up and go to sleep thinking of you. After all, we haven't heard from you for a long time. But I always tell them that dad is strong and can get through anything. And I truly believe so because I know you, Siarhei. They would […]
August 18, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thanked honest Belarusian teachers for standing up to their principles
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “No new schools were opened in Minsk this year. Of the 30 private schools nationwide, only five have not been shut down. And starting this school year, children in grades 5-6 will have lessons on patriotism and morals. The shortage of teachers in Belarus has been worsening for years. And this makes parents […]
August 17, 2023
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the people of Lithuania
In her address, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, above all, thanked Lithuania for the support and solidarity that the country and its people have demonstrated toward Belarusians since 2020. She noted that today Belarusians need support more than ever. “We must understand clearly: Lukashenka is not Belarus. It is not Belarusians who threaten Lithuania, but the regime and […]
August 15, 2023
Workers’ Movement gathers evidence of labor rights violations in Belarus
The Rabochy Rukh (Workers’ Movement) is preparing a report to the International Labor Organization. Belarusians are asked to share the real situation in Belarus regarding the observance of workers' rights. The movement’s activists are documenting all cases of labor rights violations by the regime from September 2022 to August 2023, including unfair dismissals, fines, disciplinary […]
August 14, 2023